Account-file.



W. BARR.

ACCOUNT FILE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-7.1916.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

[NVE'N TUE- WILSON BARR, OF TRENTON, ONTARIO, CANADA.

ACCOUNT-FILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 312, T916.

Application filed January 7, 1916. Serial No. 70,885.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILSON BARR, of the town of Trenton, in the county of Hastings, Province of Ontario, Canada, a subject of the King of Great Britain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Account-Files, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to files of the type shown and described in my prior United States Patent N 0. 996197 dated June 27th, 1911, and my object is to simplify and im prove the construction while retaining the general mode of operation.

I attain my object by means of the detalls of construction hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved account file; Fig. 2 a plan view of the same partly broken away; Fig. 3 a perspective detail showing parts of the leaves and parts of the adjacent ends of two of the vertical and horizontal guides; and Fig. 4 a side elevation of the same parts in a different position.

In the drawings like numerals of refer-' ence indicate corresponding parts in the clifferent figures.

1 is the casing, preferably of l..-shape as shown.

2 is a series of account filing leaves, which are of ordinary construction and are provided with the account-holding clips. These leaves are pivotally connected at their lower or rearward edges by means of the hinges 4 so that one or more of the said leaves may occupy a substantially vertical or substantially horizontal position. To guide the leaves when vertical, 1 provide at each side of the casing a horizontal track 5. The last leaf 2 is provided at each side with a pro jection 6, preferably an anti-friction roller, which rides on top of the horizontal tracks 5. Each leaf 2 is also provided with a projection 7, preferably an anti-friction roller, at each side, which projections ride along the under side of the tracks 5. The leaves, when in their horizontal position, are

' guided by the substantially vertical tracks 8, one located at each side of the case. The upper ends of the vertical track 8, it will be noted, extend in close proximity to the outer ends of the horizontal tracks 5. The first leaf 2 is provided at each side with a 7 projection 9, preferably an anti-friction roller, engaging in front of the vertical tracks 8. It will be noted that when the leaves are horizontal that the projections 7 engage behind the vertical tracks. The projections 7, it will be seen, prevent the leaves, when horizontal, from moving forwardly, and also prevent the leaves, when vertical, from moving upwardly. The projections (3 prevent the back leaf from falling backward when it is in a vertical position, and thus also hold up the other leaves when they are in the vertical position. The projections 9 prevent the leaves from being pushed backward when they are in the horizontal position.

17 is a movable table, which is normally vertically spring pressed as hereinafter described, and is provided with projections 10 engaging on each side of the tracks 8, which thus prevent horizontal displacement of the table in a backward or forward direction.

From the construction described it is evi dent that any one or more leaves may be drawn from the vertical to the horizontal position and vice versa, and that the ex posed side of any given leaf occupies the same position as the similarly exposed sides of every other leaf of the file. With only single horizontal tracks employed the last leaf, when turned up alone as shown in Fig. 1, would have a tendency to fall forward. To prevent this I provide at each side of the apparatus a vertically movable track 11 yieldingly drawn toward its normal position. Preferably the track is made slidable on thecasing by means of pins 12 operating in inclined slots. 1%.. coil spring 18 is secured to the track and a suitable stationary part, such, for example, as the front pin 12, and tends to retain the track in its normal position. The spring pressure exerted by the track effectively holds the last leaf in vertical position. The object in making the tracks 11 movable is that if a number of leaves are simultaneously moved to the vertical along with the last leaf, the projection 6 is thrown up farther above the horizontal track when the leaves pass from the horizontal to the vertical position than is the case when the last leaf only is turned up, and therefore jamming would occur if the track 11 could not yield.

To prevent the whole book of leaves from being free to move rearwardly when they occupy the vertical position, it is necessary that the vertical guides extend up above the horizontal guides, but if these extensions were in alinement with the main portions of the vertical guides the last leaf would not be drawn to the horizontal position as the projections 5 would engage behind these upward extensions and prevent the last leaf from turning down. I therefore form the extensions 13 on the upper ends of the vertical tracks 8, which extensions are inclined outwardly at an angle to both the horizontal and vertical tracks. These extensions will therefore not interfere with the turning down of the last leaf to the horizontal position.

In order that the first leaf may be turned up 1 form the projections 9 on links 14;

pivotally connected with the last leaf.

When these projections engage in the angles between the extensions 13 and the vertical tracks 8, the first leaf may rock on the links to the vertical position.

To enable the book of leaves to be disengaged from the guides and removed, I pivot the vertical guides 8 at their lower ends or otherwise arrange them so that they may move forwardly to bring their upper ends forward of the forward ends of the horizontal tracks,

thus allowing the projections 7 to pass up through the gap when the leaves are all turned to the horizontal position as shown in Fig. 4.

To releasably retain the vertical tracks in their normal position I provide the pivoted latches 15, which are adapted to engage pins 16 on the upper ends of the vertical guides. When it is desired to remove the book of leaves, the leaves are all turned to the horizontal position, the latches then released and the book lifted vertically. Owing to the pivoting of the links 14 the first leaf is readily disengaged from the extensions 13.

The preferred mechanism for yieldingly supporting thetable 17 is arranged as follows: A pair of bent levers 19 are journaled on the sides of the casing and are connected by the cross bar 20. A second pair of bent levers 21 are pivoted on the sides of the casing and are connected by a cross bar 22 engaging the under side of the table at the opposite end to the cross bar 20. These bent levers 21 are connected with the bent levers 19 by means of the links 28 whereby they move together and impart asimilar movement to each of the cross bars 20 and 22. To the downwardly extending ends of the levers 19' are secured the compound springs, each constructed as follows: A coil spring 24 is connected at one end of the downwardly extending end of the lever 19 and at its other end is connected with the distant end of a bar 25, which lies close beside the spring and slides in the bearings 26. Close to the distant end of the bar 25 a second coil spring 27 is suitably secured to the case, the other end of this spring being connected to the end of the bar 25 which is nearest the lever 19. By this means I secure a very even tension, no matter how many of the leaves of the file may be down, the spring 27 tending to come into action only after a considerable number of the leaves have been turned to the horizontal position. This construction is of importance, as in files for a large number of accounts a large number of leaves must be employed and the amount of travel against the tension of the springs is very large.

From the above description it will be seen that I have considerably simplified the construction of the apparatus and have made it stronger, more durable, and easier to operate than the earlier construction shown in the patent hereinbefore referred to.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an account file the combination of a plurality of account holding leaves pivotally connected at their lower edges whereby one or more of said leaves may occupy either a substantially vertical or a substantially horizontal position; guiding means tending to restrict the leaves to a substantially vertical movement only when they are horizontal; guiding means adapted to restrict the leaves substantially to a backward or forward movement only when they are substantially vertical, said means being movable forwardly of their normal position to permit of the leaves when all are horizontal being withdrawn vertically; means for releasably retaining said vertical guiding means in their normal position; and yielding means tending to press the leaves upward when they are in the substantially horizontal posi tion, the guiding means being adapted to permit of the leaves being swung from the vertical position to the horizontal, and vice versa.

2. In an account file the combination of a plurality of account holding leaves pivotally connected at their lower edges whereby one or more of said leaves may occupy either a substantially vertical or a substantially horizontal position; guiding means tending to restrict the leaves to a substantially vertical movement only when they are horizontal; guiding means adapted to restrict the leaves substantially to a backward or forward movement only when they are substantially vertical, said means being pivoted at their lower ends so that they may be swung forwardly of their normal position to permit of the leaves when all are horizontal being withdrawn vertically; latches adapted to engage said guiding means to releasably retain them in their normal position; and yielding means tending to press the leaves upward when they are in the substantially horizontal position, the guiding means being adapted to permit of the leaves being swung from the vertical position to the horizontal, and vice versa.

3. In an account file the combination of a plurality of account holding leaves pivotally connected at their lower edges; a substantially horizontal guide track at each side of the apparatus; a substantially vertical guide track at each side of the-apparatus, said tracks substantially meeting the horizontal tracks; projections on the last leaf adapted to ride on top of the horizontal tracks; projections on the first leaf adapted to ride in front of the vertical tracks; projections on each leaf adapted to engage behind the vertical tracks and under the horizontal tracks; and yielding means tending to press the leaves upward when they are in the substantially horizontal position, the guiding means being adapted to permit of the leaves being swung from the vertical position to the horizontal, and vice versa.

4. In an account file the combination of a plurality of account holding leaves pivotally connected at their lower edges; a substantially horizontal guide track at each side of the apparatus; a substantially vertical guide track at each side of the apparatus, said tracks substantially meeting the horizontal tracks; projections on the last leaf adapted to ride on top of the horizontal tracks; vertically movable tracks arranged substantially parallel to and above the horizontal tracks and adapted to engage the proj ections of the last leaf riding on top of said horizontal tracks; spring means yieldingly pressing said movable tracks downwardly; projections on the first leaf adapted to ride in front of the vertical tracks; projections on each leaf adapted to engage behind the vertical tracks and under the horizontal tracks; and yielding means tending to press the leaves upward when they are in the substantially horizontal position, the guiding means being adapted to permit of the leaves being swung from the vertical position to the horizontal, and vice versa.

5. In an account file the combination of a plurality of account holding leaves pivotally connected at their lower edges; a substantially horizontal guide track at each side of the apparatus; a substantially vertical guide track at each side of the apparatus, said tracks substantially meeting the horizontal tracks; a short extension on each vertical track extending outwardly at an angle to both the horizontal and vertical tracks; projections 0n the last leaf adapted to ride on top of the horizontal tracks; projections adapted to ride in front of the vertical tracks; links carrying said projections and pivotally connected to the first leaf; projections on each leaf adapted to engage behind the vertical tracks and under the horizontal tracks; and yielding means tending to press the leaves upward when they are in the substantially horizontal position, the guiding means being adapted to permit of the leaves being swung from the vertical position to the horizontal, and vice versa.

6. In an account file the combination of a plurality of account holding leaves pivotally connected at their lower edges; a sub stantially horizontal guide track at each side of the apparatus; a substantially vertical guide track at each side of the apparatus, said tracks substantially meeting the horizontal tracks, said vertical tracks also being pivoted at their lower ends; latches adapted to engage said vertical tracks to releasably retain them in their normal position; projections on the last leaf adapted to ride on top of the horizontal tracks; projections on the first leaf adapted to ride in front of the vertical tracks; projections on each leaf adapted to engage behind the vertical tracks and under the horizontal tracks; and yielding means tending to press the leaves upward when they are in the substantially horizontal position, the guiding means being adapted to permit of the leaves being swung from the vertical position to the horizontal, and vice versa.

7. In an account file the combination of a plurality of account holding leaves pivotally connected at their lower edges; a substantially horizontal guide track at each side of the apparatus; a substantially Vertical guide track at each side of the apparatus, said tracks substantially meeting the 100 horizontal tracks, said vertical tracks also being pivoted at their lower ends; latches adapted to engage said vertical tracks to releasably retain them in their normal position; projections on the last leaf adapted 105 to ride on top of the horizontal tracks; projections adapted to ride in front of the vertical tracks; links carrying said projections and pivotally connected to the first leaf; projections on'each leaf adapted to 110 engage behind the vertical tracks and under the horizontal tracks; and yielding means tending to press the leaves upward when they are in the substantially horizontal position, the guiding means being adapted to 115 permit of the leaves being swung from the vertical position to the horizontal, and vice versa.

Signed at Hamilton, Ontario, this 3rd day of Jany., A. D. 1916, in the presence of the 120 two undersigned witnesses.

WILSON BARR.

WVitnesses:

W. J. JEFFREY, S. E. RUsK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

w Washington, D. G. 

